Paste (magazine)

Paste
Editor Josh Jackson
Categories Music magazines
Frequency Digital monthly
Publisher Wolfgang's Vault
First issue July 2002
Final issue 2010 (print)
Country United States
Based in Avondale Estates, Georgia
Language English
Website www.pastemagazine.com
ISSN 1540-3106

Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."[1] It ran as a print publication from 2002 to 2010 before converting to online-only.

History

The magazine, headquartered in Avondale Estates, Georgia, was founded as a quarterly in July 2002[2] by Josh Jackson, Nick Purdy, and Tim Porter. It later switched to a bimonthly format. In 2005, Paste fulfilled remaining subscriptions for the competing magazine Tracks, which had ceased publishing its print edition. Paste became a monthly with its August 2006 issue.

For two years in the mid-2000s, Paste had a weekly segment on CNN Headline News called "Paste Picks",[3] wherein editors would recommend new albums and films every Tuesday.

In October 2007, the magazine tried the "Radiohead" experiment, offering new and current subscribers the ability to pay what they wanted for a one-year subscription to Paste.[4] The subscriber base increased by 28,000, but Paste president Tim Regan-Porter noted the model was not sustainable; he hoped the new subscribers would renew the following year at the current rates, and the increase in web traffic would attract additional subscribers and advertisers.[5]

Amidst an economic downturn, Paste began to suffer from lagging ad revenue, as did other magazine publishers in 2008 and 2009. On May 14, 2009, Paste editors announced a plan to save the magazine, by pleading to its readers,[6] musicians and celebrities for contributions.[7] Cost-cutting by the magazine did not stem the losses. The main crux cited for the financial troubles is the lack of advertiser spending.[8]

In 2009, Paste launched an hour-long TV pilot for Halogen TV called Pop Goes the Culture.[9]

On August 31, 2010, Paste suspended the print magazine,[10] but continues publication as the online PasteMagazine.com.

Reemergence

On May 28, 2011, Paste announced it was bringing back its weekly subscription services in a digital layout. The digital magazine now covers music, movies, TV, comedy, books, video games, design, tech, food and drink. Each issue also includes a digital version of the Paste Sampler with seven new songs each week.

Content

Although Paste's focus was music, covering a variety of genres with an emphasis on adult album alternative, Americana and indie rock, the magazine also covered independent film and books. Each issue originally included a CD music sampler but was dropped in favor of digital downloading as a Going-Green initiative. Featured artists included Ryan Adams, Blackalicious, Paul McCartney, Regina Spektor, The Whigs, Fiona Apple, The Decemberists, Mark Heard, Woven Hand, Milton and the Devils Party, Liam Finn, The Trolleyvox, and Thom Yorke. Many of these artists also contributed to the Campaign to Save Paste.[11]

Awards

In 2005, Paste was listed at #21 on the Chicago Tribune's list of "50 Best Magazines"; it appeared on the list again in 2007.[12] Paste was also named "Magazine of the Year" by the PLUG Independent Music Awards in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Paste was nominated for a National Magazine Award in the category of General Excellence, and in 2010, associate editor Rachael Maddux' writings were nominated for Best Reviews.

References

  1. "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture". Paste (magazine). Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  2. "Potential Markets". Freelance Writing. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  3. "Paste Secures Weekly Spot on CNN Headline News". Paste (magazine). August 26, 2004. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  4. "Following Radiohead, Paste to Let Subscribers Name Their Own Price". FolioMag. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  5. "Paste President: Radiohead Experiment 'A Huge Success'". FolioMag. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  6. "A Letter to Paste Contributors". Gawker. May 13, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  7. "Paste Launches Campaign to Save its Magazine". FolioMag. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  8. "The Campaign to Save Paste". PasteMagazine. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  9. Jackson, Josh (October 26, 2009). "New Paste TV Show Debuts Tonight!". Paste. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  10. Josh Jackson (September 1, 2010). "Paste Magazine Suspends Print Publication". Paste. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  11. "Artists Contributing to The Campaign to Save Paste". PasteMagazine. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  12. "50 Best Magazines". Chicago Tribune. June 17, 2004. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
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